Thick Tomato Soup

Ingredients

• 4-5 small florets of cauliflower, chopped                    
• 2 medium carrots, thickly sliced                          
• 2 medium tomatoes, chopped                          
• ¼ medium cabbage, chopped                              
• 6-8 French beans, chopped                
• 2 teaspoons oats    
• 3 teaspoons split skinless green gram (dhuli moong dal)              
• 1 tablespoon oil    
• ½ teaspoon cumin seeds                        
• Salt to taste
• 4 cups vegetable stock    
• 3-4 black peppercorns, freshly crushed            
• 2 teaspoons butter                            
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh coriander leaves          

Method

1. Heat the oil in a pressure cooker, add the cumin seeds and sauté till they begin to change colour.  
2. Add the cauliflower, carrots, tomatoes, cabbage and French beans and sauté on high heat.
3. Add salt, oats and moong dal and mix well.  Add the vegetable stock and stir.  Cover the cooker and cook under pressure till pressure is released three to four times (three to four whistles).
4. Open the cooker when the pressure reduces and mash the vegetables.  Pass through a soup strainer.  If the soup is too thick add a little vegetable stock to get the right consistency.
5. Serve hot garnished with freshly crushed peppercorns, a dollop of butter and coriander leaves.